- Consequence of sound
- Festival outlook
John Frusciante reportedly quits the Red Hot Chili Peppers
By Alex Young on December 14th, 2009 in
With a concert scheduled for next month and a new album due out sometime in not too distant future, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are certainly gearing up for a busy 2010. However, if you believe several media reports, these plans will not include longtime guitarist John Frusciante.
As TwentyFourBit points out, the Los Angeles Times’ Kevin Bronson, Musicradar.com, and hipster gossip website Buddyhead.com have all filed reports in recent days claiming that Frusciante has quit the band. Apparently the general consensus seems to be that Frusciante is no longer interested in being part of the Chili Peppers and has since been replaced by Josh Klinghoffer, who previously toured with the band as a second guitarist. Klinghoffer and the rest of the band are reportedly recording their yet-to-be-titled 10th album.
Throughout the last year, Frusciante has appeared apathetic to the idea of a new Chili Peppers album. Rumors of his departure had picked up steam in recent weeks after drummer Chad Smith recently responded to a question about the guitarist with a “Well… at this time I can’t talk about that. I have been told to stay away from the John questions.” As of now, however, the band has yet to officially comment on the matter.
If true, this would not mark the first time Frusciante has quit the band. The New York city native joined the Chili Peppers in 1988 only to quit four years later after being overwhelmed by the band’s popularity. He would rejoin the outfit in 1998.
TAGGED AS: John Frusciante, Red Hot Chili Peppers
comments (21)
I am NOT scared of the change that John has created. John and the band are all great friends and will remain friends. And yes, Josh is a dear friend of John. But John did not leave the band on bad terms–there is not animosity; they just grew apart. John has ten solo albums out. So, as you can see, his solo career is just as important to him as his stuff with the peppers. IF Josh Klinghoffer is the newest Pepper, this would only signal change in the band. Not better. Not worse. Only different music. Because “better” and “worse” are statements of taste. some fans may like the newer music and some may not. But in the end it will be Red Hot Chili Pepper MUSIC.
I always preferred the original line up from the uplift mofo days.Hillel has always been my favorite and I think john had huge shos to fill and I think he tried really hard and did a good job. I always wondered where they would have gone had hillel been alive. he was funkier and so was the music. I personally think the peppers are way off from their true potential.I think johntook them in a different direction and I hope the next does the same thing. I wish they would go back to their original roots and pu some more funk back in it.I would love to see george clinton produce another album of theirs.
I just heard he left the band after getting an email from a good friend in Cleveland and I feel like throwing up. This is just completely fucked! The one band that still puts out consistently great music (when Fruciante is in the band) and they have to go and loose their most important member. Don’t get me wrong, they all click when they’re together but Fruciante is the driving force behind the Peppers. I hope this is just a big mistake. If not it’s just more fucking stab in the heart in this crazy life.
this just means john will be making more solo records. woooo!
Josh Klinghoffer is talented.
very talented.this is all wonderful news
My heart just dropped. Im so worried. I love John, and i love the rest of the band, together they have done so much for me. This is so confusing, what are they gunna do if they get inducted in to the rock and roll hall of fame?? will john show up?? they say josh is his replacement, but aren’t john and josh really good friends?? will it be akward between them?? I really hope that these are just terrible rumors, but they seem to be true.I really hope something can be worked out.
i feel like i just got punched in the stomache! So pissed off R.I.P. RHCP
As a former HUGE Red Hot Chili Peppers fan, it pains me to read this news. I think John is an integral member of this band, and there will be a huge dynamic shift in the way the band works onstage (especially the Flea/John/occasionally Chad Smith jams).
However, I just don’t understand why such comments are warranted that the Chili Peppers suck, sound horrible, and what not. The Chili Peppers are one of the most dynamic American bands of the past 20 years. Sure, they evolved on their sound and experimented with new music tools, but in this day and age, who hasn’t?! It doesn’t give someone credence to hate on the two longtime members of the band: Flea and Anthony Kiedis. Flea is one of the best bassists on the planet and redefined bass as we know it. I never thought Anthony Kiedis had an amazing voice, but it was UNIQUE and still stands out amongst today’s modern rock bands which are the equivalent of ear wax to my ears.
And One Hot Minute = a horrible album? I thought it was better than By The Way, that’s for sure…
i think all the peppers are important to their sound. if anyone left (kiedis, frusciante, flea, or chad) it would suck like a black hole. and even though i like “my friends”, the dave navarro phase is not the best peppers by a long shot. most fans i know are attached to frusciante’s style, and that will be the biggest problem (especially if the replacement is not up to par). hopefully its not true.
While RHCP should be able to live on with Klinghoffer as a temporary replacement (He’s good friends and a talented musician himself), I don’t think that the band can make it past this upcoming album without John’s distinct style of guitar playing.
oh how much I would have enjoyed it if Kedis left the band.
one hot minute was not a mess thats by favorite chili peppers album. i hope john isn’t doing heroin again.
terrible news
all the more reason not to get this new album and preserve what memory i have of the chili peppers
Did they get along “just fine” the last time he left? no..One Hot “Mess” was not a very good representation of the band
Oh yea, Kiedis and Flea are just talentless hacks I suppose.
I don’t quite understand how anyone could say the Chili Peppers die because of this, it’s absurd. Kiedis is the heart and Flea is the soul of a band. John’s a fantastic guitarist but I think they will get along just fine without him.
The only reason the Chili Peppers were good over the past 10 years WAS Johns guitar playing…consider this band dead and buried
So much for RHCP @ BOnnaroo
He originally joined in 1988 and came back in 1998, actually…
good. let the RHCP die a respectable death. please.
